Russia is a pariah state – British Prime Minister Sunak

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who arrived on the Indonesian island of Bali to participate in the G20 summit, called Russia a “pariah state” and promised to unequivocally condemn it. It is reported by the Evening Standard.

Photo: bbc.com

In a conversation with journalists during a trip to Indonesia, Sunak said: “It is significant that Putin is not there (at the summit). Russia is becoming a pariah state and he’s not there to take responsibility for what he’s doing.”

The British Prime Minister reiterated that he plans to take a tough approach towards Russia, which is represented at the G20 summit by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“I’m going to take the opportunity to unequivocally condemn the Russian state and Putin for their abhorrent and illegal war. I will do it in the hall, I will do it if I see him (Lavrov) elsewhere, and it will be right,” Sunak said.

The British PM assured that London is not going to persuade Kyiv to negotiate with Moscow, in which, in his opinion, it is not interested.

“It is a bit unfair to tell Ukrainians: “Look, you have to negotiate” when your country and your civilian infrastructure are being continuously bombed, as it is now. So our task is to continue to help Ukrainians defend themselves and put themselves in the strongest possible position, and they will choose how to reach a negotiated settlement,” the British Prime Minister noted.

According to media reports, the United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed to boycott Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s speeches at the G20 summit and will call on allies to join them.

Read also: Why are talks with Russia impossible, and more support for Ukraine is needed?